Westlake faced Lake Travis in a battle of two Austin teams for a spot in the 6A Division 1 State Championship Semifinals. These two teams faced off in week 4, in which Westlake won 20-14. It was the Chapparals’ closest game of the season. Three weeks later, Lake Travis dropped another game, to Dripping Springs, and many wrote them off as a team that would make it this far into the playoffs. But, with an upset 13-10 win over Vandegrift, and two more playoff wins over San Antonio Johnson and Brennan, Lake Travis found themselves back in the state quarterfinals.
Westlake is just a year removed from their run of three straight state titles. They have looked dominant this season, averaging outscoring their opponents 47-9 per game. They have had their eye on a showdown with North Shore for a spot in the state championship. But, Lake Travis gave them a game.
The first half was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to move the ball, and a bunch of great third-down stops by both defenses. In the closing minutes of a scoreless first half, Westlake got the ball moving and finally got on the scoreboard with a Rees Wise to Cal Livengood 16-yard touchdown with :06 left in the first half.
In the second half, the Westlake offensive line started to open up some holes for Jack Kayser, and he increased the Chap’s lead to 14-0 with a 12-yard touchdown run. Then, early in the 4th quarter, Lake Travis cut the lead to 7 with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Chaston Ditta to Kadyn Leon. The touchdown got the Cavalier’s fans going wild, and momentum seemed like it might change. Lake Travis tried to capitalize on that with an onside kick, but Westlake recovered it.
Westlake had the short field mid-way through the 4th, but Cam’ren-Chance Brooks intercepted Wise, and Lake Travis had the ball back with a chance to tie the game. However, on the Lake Travis drive, Denim Collins intercepted Ditta, and Westlake drove down for a decisive touchdown run, again by Jack Kayser, to take a 21-7 lead with 3:21 left.
The Cavaliers showed the fight they had and pushed the ball down the field in an attempt to pull off a miracle comeback. They were able to score on a 2-yard pass from Ditta to Josiah Thomas, but there was just 0:26 left. Lake Travis attempted on onside kick, but Westlake recovered and took a knee for the 21-14 win.
For Lake Travis, this season should be seen as a success. They were 12-3 in 2021, but not really a state title contender that year. In 2022, they went 7-5, and there was a lot of chatter that the school’s long 20-year run of being in the state title hunt was over. Then, when Lake Travis took the second loss of the season, it was a pivatol moment in the season. But, Lake Travis looked like one of the best teams in the state in the second half of the season, and their win over Vandegrift was one of the best defensive performances any team had this season. The Cavaliers should be proud of their season.
For Westlake, they’re back on the doorstep of playing for another state title. Westlake advances to play the 14-0 North Shore Mustangs. The Mustangs are ranked #1 or #2 in the state (with the DeSoto Eagles, who are in the 6A DII bracket) in most polls. They are coming off of a close 34-28 game against Atascocita, and they’ve not been as dominant this year as Westlake has. That said, North Shore will likely be favored by a bit by most people as they look to get back to the state title game. It should be a great game.
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